Published October 18. 2017 08:17AM
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The former owner of a south-central Pennsylvania cemetery has been sentenced to two to seven years in prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution to customers.
WPMT-TV reports 70-year-old James Delaney was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty earlier this month to theft by deception or false impression and violation of cemetery and funeral merchandise trust.
Police began an investigation in July 2016 after receiving hundreds of complaints about Delaney’s business. Adams County prosecutors say Delaney took money from more than 900 customers who paid for funeral items but never fulfilled the requests.
As part of sentencing, a judge has ordered Delaney to pay $2.2 million in restitution.